Vibrator motor



Nov. 28, 1961 F. H. A. MEE ETAL 3,010,439

VIBRATOR MOTOR Filed May 27, 1960 29 3o 35 2! 2 32224 39 FIG! //A 'V///' m V/ 4/ 41 V/ 2o 5! 5 FIG. 3

28 I2 I6 I9 20 57 54 55 2: FIGJ Inventors FRANCIS HERERT ARTHR MEE AUSTEN BEmAm BARNES United States Patent ited Filed May 27, 1960, Ser. No. 32,259 7 Claims. (Cl. 121-123) This application relates to fluid operated converters and particularly to vibrator motors.

The application of vibrators industry and for a variety of uses is well known. The production of a vibrator having good operating characteristics, together with features such as simplicity of construction combined with physical compactness and high energy yield for fluid consumed, is however, a matter of relative difficulty. Known vibrators suffer from the disadvantage of having a relatively low efificieucy, moreover, in the case of a small unit designed to provide a given power output, the problem of eificiency of the unit is accentuated.

It is amongst the objects of this invention to provide a double acting vibrator of improved efiiciency.

It is also amongst the objects to provide a vibrator hav ing good power to weight characteristics.

It is further amongst the objects to provide a vibrator motor having two basic moving parts.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the vibrator of the invention;

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a vibrator motor similar to FIGURE 1 but embodying gas cushioning features;

FIGURE 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a vibrator motor employing a solid valve; and

FIGURE 4 shows a further embodiment of the vibrator motor.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a vibrator motor having a cylinder 10, piston 11 and valve 12. Inlet port or ports 13 are provided through side wall of cylinder 10. Similar exhaust ports 14 and 15 are also provided in the side wall of cylinder 10. Gas under pressure is introduced into the cylinder by inlet port 13 to the annulus 16 on the central portion of piston 11 between lands 17 and 18. The gas flows from annulus 16 through transfer passage 19 to annulus 20 on valve 12 between lands 21 and 22. From annulus 20 the gas passes through ports 23 to passage 24, in valve 12, from thence it flows to space 25, which may be zero on starting at the end of cylinder 10. As the gas flows from inlet port 13 to space 25 the valve and piston are caused to move to the left; the valve and piston travel substantially together until the end 26 of valve 12 abuts against the end wall 27 of cylinder 10. Whilst the valve 12 and piston 11 are travelling to the left gas from chamber 28 at the left hand end of the cylinder is free to exhaust through central bore 29 of piston 11, transfer passage 30 and annulus 31 which latter is formed between land 17 and the end 32 of piston 11.

When the end 26 of piston 12 abuts the end wall 27 the valve ceases to move and piston 11 continues to travel to the left. Gas from chamber 28 may still be exhausted by outlet port 14 in the manner described until the entrance to bore 29 of piston 11 is blocked by the overlapping of piston end 32 with the land 33 of valve 12. At this stage, further exhaust from chamber 28 is cut off and the trapped gas remaining forms a cushion for the piston. As the piston 11 continues to travel to the left, the inlet transfer port 19 is closed off by land 21 on valve 12 thus terminating the feed of gas from inlet port 13 to end chamber 25, at the same time inlet transfer passage 34 is being opened to annulus 35 formed between lands 21 and 36 on valve 12. As the piston 11 and valve 12 assume a position where inlet gas may proceed from inlet port 13 via inlet transfer passage 34 to annulus 35, the right hand end 37 on valve 12 will project beyond right hand end 38 of piston 11, thereby allowing gas which will now be occupying endychamber 25, to flow out via annulus 39, outlet transfer passage 40 and annulus 41 to outlet port 15 which will already have been uncovered by the movement to the left of piston 11. At this stage the valve and piston will have assumed a position similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 but at the opposite end of cylinder 10. The reverse stroke is similar in nature to that just described.- In this embodiment of the invention valve 12 is uncushioned but cushioning for the valve may simply be provided in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that recessed portions 42 and 43 corresponding in size to the ends 33 and 37 of valve 12, are provided in the end walls of cylinder 10. The ends of valve 12 are formed by solid portions 44 and 45, and in order to provide for the flow of gas through passage 24to end chamber 25, additional valve port 46 are provided. The end 38 of piston 11 is also provided, with an annular groove 47; similar ports 48 and groove 49 are provided at the other end of the system. It will be seen that as the-solid valve end 45 enters the space 42, a quantity of gas will be trapped and form a cushion for the valve.

When the gas supply is removed and the motor stopped, there is a tendency for both the valve and the piston to creep towards a central position due to the expansion of the remaining gas trapped at the ends. It has been found that by providing a bleed 50 at one end, this motion can be biased one way and an off centre position will then be assumed which facilitates subsequent starting.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, provision is made for a solid valve piece 12. In this case central bore 24 of the valve is replaced by means of passage 51 through piston 11. Inlet transfer port 19 remains in the same form and in the same position as does annulus. 20. Gas entering through inlet port 13 merely proceeds via annulus 16, inlet transfer passage 19, annulus 20 and passage 51 to end space 25. In this embodiment the valve 12 is cushioned in a similar manner by virtue of the end 52 entering recessed portion 42.

'51 is arranged on the opposite side of the left hand end of piston 11. I

Reference is now made to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4. In this embodiment it will be noticed that the piston 11 is of a simplified form as is valve 12. This arrangement is particularly suitable for small applications. In this case, gas enters inlet port 13 and proceeds via annulus 16 through inlet transfer passage 19 to annulus 20; from thence it flows through ports 23 and along passage 24 to end space 25 in a manner similar to that described with regardto the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 1. As the piston 11 and valve 12 move to the left, gas is exhausted from space 28 via exhaust port 54. As movement to the left proceeds the end 55 of piston 11 closes exhaust port 54, trapping a volume of low pressure gas in chamber 28 which when compressed forms a cushion for the piston. As soon as the end of valve 12 comes in contact with the end of cylinder 10, the inlet transfer passage 19 is closed off by means of central land 21 on valve 12. At the same time the inlet transfer pas sage 34 is opened and the gas trapped in end chamber 25 is vented to atmosphere via exhaust port 56.

In order to ensure starting in all attitudes, a light spring 3 57 may be incorporated to provide the piston 11 with an off centre characteristic.

It is contemplated and has been found that the invention as described works most satisfactorily when all parts are assembled with suflicient tolerance to provide a close running fit. At the same time, the invention has the advantage of performing efliciently with larger tolerances. This feature presents a considerable advantage to the invention in industrial application with respect to factors such as wear and maintenance, in that the life of the apparatus is extended and maintenance requirements are reduced." The piston and valve may be formed of any materials suitable to the requirements predicated by the cir cumstances under which the invention is to be used.

Whilstthe above description has given details of certain modifications, it will be apparent that further variations and modifications may be made without departing fromthe sco'peof the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. A fluid operated vibrator motor comprising: a cylinder member having closed ends; a double acting piston member axially slidable within said cylinder member; an axially disposed bore through said piston member; a valve member slidable within said bore, said valve mem-' her being of a length greater than said piston member; inlet and outlet port means in said cylinder, lands on said piston member adapted to block said outlet port means upon. relative movement of said piston; transfer passages in said piston member communicating with said bore;

'land means on said valve. member positioned to block and open said transfer passages upon relative movement of saidrpiston and valve members by virtue of the engagement of the end of said valve member with the end of said cylinder towards the end of each stroke of said piston, whereby fluid reversal is effected in the motor.

2. A fluid operated vibrator motor comprising: a cylinder member havingclosed ends; a double acting piston member reciprocable within said cylinder; a valvepiece within said piston member, said valvepiece being axially relatively movable with respect to said piston member,

and being of alength greater than said piston member thereby to protrude beyond the end thereof; fluid conduit passage means allowing passage of fluid by said valvepiece to either end of said piston member into the chamber formed between the end thereof and the end of the cylinderthereby to eifect movement of said piston mem bet and valvepiece; fluid inlet and outlet port means in the walls of said cylinder; transfer passage means in said piston communicating between said inlet port means and said valvepiece; and land means on said piston member and on said valvepiece positioned to communicate fluid first towards one endchamber of the system, thereby moving said piston member and valvepiece in the opposite direction, the fluid being communicated to the opposite nately blocking one of said outlet port'means upon relative movement of said piston member and cylinder; a valve guide how in said piston, a valvepiece within said valve guide bore and relatively axially slidable with respect to said piston, said valvepiece being of a length greater than said piston; inlet transfer passages communieating between said inlet port means and said valve guide bore; a fluid conduit means extending to each end chamber and communicable with said. inlet transfer passages;

and land means on said valvepiece slidable to open and close oflf said communication between said inlet transfer passages and one of said fluid conduit means upon relative movement of said valvepiece and said piston member, whereby fluid flow is directed sequentially from said inlet first to one end chamber and then to the other upon reversal by virtue of the relative movement of said valvepiece and said piston member.

4, .A 'fluid operated vibrator comprising: a cylinder member having closed ends; a double acting piston member reciprocable within said cylinder member; inlet port means centrally disposed in the cylinder wall; first and second outlet port means disposed on either side of said inlet port between the centre of the cylinder and the ends thereof in spaced apart relationship to said inlet port means; a central portion of reduced diameter on said piston member, said portion being of a length suflicien-t to be communicable with said inlet port means for all positions of said piston; a central valve guide bore coaxial with said piston; a valve member slidable within said bore, said valve member having a length greater than the piston member; inlet transfer passages disposed towards each end of said recessed portion on said piston member and communicable with said valve guide bore; land means centrally on said valve member for closing said transferpassages upon relative movement of said piston and valve member; fluid passages communicating between each end of the piston member and the central portion of said valve guide bore thereby to permit flow of fluid from the inlet port means to one end of the cylinder when a transfer passage is open; and land means on said piston to sequentially open and close the outlet ports upon reciprocation of said piston member in said cylinder.

5. A fluid operated vibrator motor comprising: a cylinder member having closed ends; a piston member reciprocable within said cylinder; inlet port means centrally disposed in the cylinder wall; outlet port means disposed in the cylinder wall between said inlet port means and the ends of said, cylinder; spaced apart land means on said piston for closing said outlet ports sequentially upon reciprocation of said piston thereby to permit exhaust from one end only of said cylinder at a time; a central valvepiece coaxial with said piston and slidably disposed therein; at least two fluid inlet conduit passages permanently communicating with said inlet port means and communicable with said central valvepiece; land means on said valvepiece for closing said passages sequentially; and conduit means extending to the end of each piston whereby fluid may be directed sequentially from the inlet port to one end of the cylinder at a time. I

6. A fluid operated vibrator motor comprising; a cylinder member having closed ends; a piston member reciprocable within said cylinder; inlet port means centrally disposed in the cylinder wall; outlet port means disposed in the cylinder wall between said inlet port means and the ends of said cylinder; spaced apart land means on said piston for closing said outlet ports sequentially upon reciprocation of said piston thereby to permit exhaust from one end only of said cylinder at a time; a central bore extending through said piston; a central valvepiece coaxial with said piston and slidably disposed in said central bore; at least two fluid inlet conduit passages permanently communicating with said inlet port means and communicable with said central valve-piece; central land means on said valvepiece for closing said passages sequentially; conduit means extending to each end of the piston whereby fluid may be directed sequentially from the inlet port to one end of the cylinder at a time; end lands on said valvepiece movable into and out of the ends of said central bore upon relative movement of said piston and valvepiece thereby to open and close communication between said bore and the cylinder at the ends of the piston; and outlet passages communicable between the central bore adjacent each end thereof and said outlet ports whereby upon relative movement of said valvepiece and said piston exhaust is sequentially permitted past the respective end lands on said valvepiece from one end of said cylinder at a time.

7. A vibrator motor as claimed in claim 6 including recessed portions at each end of the cylinder, said recessed portions being of a diameter to receive the end of the 5 valvepiece at each end of the stroke; and solid end walls on each end of the valvepiece whereby the entry of said solid end wall of said valvepiece into the recessed portion entraps a quantity of gas in said recessed portion thereby to provide gas cushioning at the end of each valve stroke. 10

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Payton Sept. 10, 1901 Charvat May 8, 1906 Criner Mar. 2, 1915 Burnhart June 8, 1915 Armstrong et al Nov. 16, 1937 

